Virtual Breathing Intervention for Enhancing Asthma-related Quality of Life - A Randomized Controlled Trial (BREATHE)
Effectiveness, Feasibility, and Acceptability of a 12-Week Virtual Breathing Training Program to Improve Disease-Specific Quality of Life in Adults With Asthma and Incomplete Symptom Control: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Asthma is a common long-term lung condition that can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest tightness, and anxiety. Even with appropriate medication, about 30-40% of people with asthma do not achieve good symptom control and continue to experience reduced quality of life.
Breathing exercises are recommended as an additional, non-drug treatment for asthma. However, these programs are not widely available outside of rehabilitation clinics, and more scientific evidence is needed, especially for digital formats.
This study aims to investigate whether a 12-week structured breathing training program delivered online can improve asthma-related quality of life in adults whose asthma is not well controlled. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group or a control group receiving usual care.
The intervention consists of weekly live, group-based breathing sessions led by trained physiotherapists via videoconference, combined with short daily self-practice exercises at home. Participants will also use a simple breathing device to support the exercises. The control group will continue their usual medical care without additional breathing training.
We will assess whether the program improves quality of life, asthma control, and symptoms such as anxiety, stress, and dysfunctional breathing. The study will also evaluate whether the online format is feasible, acceptable, and satisfactory for participants.
The breathing exercises are non-invasive and low risk. The results of this study may help to develop accessible, low-cost, and evidence-based support programs for people with asthma.
Studie Overzicht
Toestand
Conditie
Interventie / Behandeling
Studietype
Inschrijving (Geschat)
Fase
- Niet toepasbaar
Contacten en locaties
Studiecontact
- Naam: Inga Jarosch, Dr.
- Telefoonnummer: 1730 +49 8652 93
- E-mail: ijarosch@schoen-klinik.de
Deelname Criteria
Geschiktheidscriteria
Leeftijden die in aanmerking komen voor studie
- Volwassen
- Oudere volwassene
Accepteert gezonde vrijwilligers
Beschrijving
Inclusion Criteria:
- Adults aged ≥18 years
- Asthma bronchiale
- Partly controlled or uncontrolled asthma according to GINA 2025 criteria
- Access to internet and compatible smartphone for digital intervention and data collection
Exclusion Criteria:
- Clinically relevant nasal obstruction (e.g., severe septal deviation, nasal polyps) affecting nasal breathing
- Current regular use of structured breathing therapy or breathing training devices
- Participation in another interventional clinical trial that may interfere with outcomes
- Severe comorbid conditions limiting participation in mild physical or breathing exercise (e.g., unstable cardiovascular disease)
- Lack of willingness or ability to use required digital tools (video platform, wearable device, smartphone app)
Studie plan
Hoe is de studie opgezet?
Ontwerpdetails
- Primair doel: Onderzoek naar gezondheidsdiensten
- Toewijzing: Gerandomiseerd
- Interventioneel model: Parallelle opdracht
- Masker: Enkel
Wapens en interventies
Deelnemersgroep / Arm |
Interventie / Behandeling |
|---|---|
|
Experimenteel: Experimental Group
Virtual Breathing Training Program
|
A 12-week structured, physiotherapist-led breathing training delivered via weekly live video group sessions combined with daily home-based exercises.
The program includes breathing techniques such as nasal breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, and breathing control strategies.
Participants also use a breathing training device to support the exercises.
|
|
Actieve vergelijker: Usual Care Group
Usual Care
|
Standard medical care for asthma according to current guidelines without additional breathing training intervention.
|
Wat meet het onderzoek?
Primaire uitkomstmaten
Uitkomstmaat |
Maatregel Beschrijving |
Tijdsspanne |
|---|---|---|
|
Change in Asthma-related quality of life (AQLQ)
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to 12 weeks
|
Change in disease-specific quality of life measured using the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ).
The AQLQ is a validated instrument for adults with asthma.
Scores range from 1 to 7, with higher scores indicating better quality of life.
A change of 0.5 points is considered clinically meaningful.
|
Baseline to 12 weeks
|
Secundaire uitkomstmaten
Uitkomstmaat |
Maatregel Beschrijving |
Tijdsspanne |
|---|---|---|
|
Change in Asthma Control
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to 12 weeks (also assessed every 2 weeks)
|
Change in asthma control measured using the Asthma Control Test (ACT).
|
Baseline to 12 weeks (also assessed every 2 weeks)
|
|
Change in Dysfunctional Breathing Symptoms
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to 12 weeks
|
Change in symptoms of dysfunctional breathing measured by the Nijmegen Questionnaire
|
Baseline to 12 weeks
|
|
Change in Physiological parameters (wearable-derived)
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to 12 weeks
|
Heart rate, assessed via wearable device.
|
Baseline to 12 weeks
|
|
Change in Physiological parameters (wearable-derived)
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to 12 weeks
|
Heart rate variability, assessed via wearable device.
|
Baseline to 12 weeks
|
|
Change in Physical Performance
Tijdsspanne: Baseline and 12 weeks
|
Change in physical performance assessed using the 1-minute sit-to-stand test.
|
Baseline and 12 weeks
|
|
Participant Satisfaction
Tijdsspanne: At 12 weeks
|
Participant-reported satisfaction with the intervention measured using a study-specific questionnaire (5-point Likert scale).
|
At 12 weeks
|
|
Number of Treatment-related Adverse Events
Tijdsspanne: Throughout the 12-week study period
|
Incidence of adverse events including dizziness, discomfort, asthma exacerbations, changes in medication use, and use of rescue medication.
|
Throughout the 12-week study period
|
|
Time to Clinically Meaningful Improvement
Tijdsspanne: Assessed every 2 weeks up to 12 weeks
|
Time to first achievement of a clinically meaningful improvement (≥0.5 points) in AQLQ or ACT.
|
Assessed every 2 weeks up to 12 weeks
|
|
Adherence and Engagement
Tijdsspanne: 12-week intervention period
|
Attendance at supervised sessions and frequency of home-based breathing exercises (self-reported diary).
|
12-week intervention period
|
|
Change in Psychological outcomes
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to 12 weeks
|
Changes in anxiety (GAD-7)
|
Baseline to 12 weeks
|
|
Change in Psychological outcomes
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to 12 weeks
|
Changes in depression (PHQ-9)
|
Baseline to 12 weeks
|
|
Change in Psychological outcomes
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to 12 weeks
|
Changes in perceived stress (PSS) scores.
|
Baseline to 12 weeks
|
|
Change in Physiological parameters (wearable-derived)
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to 12 weeks
|
Respiratory rate, assessed via wearable device.
|
Baseline to 12 weeks
|
|
Change in Physiological parameters (wearable-derived)
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to 12 weeks
|
Sleep duration, assessed via wearable device.
|
Baseline to 12 weeks
|
|
Change in Physiological parameters (wearable-derived)
Tijdsspanne: Baseline to 12 weeks
|
Daily physical activity (step count), assessed via wearable device.
|
Baseline to 12 weeks
|
Medewerkers en onderzoekers
Medewerkers
Studie record data
Bestudeer belangrijke data
Studie start (Geschat)
Primaire voltooiing (Geschat)
Studie voltooiing (Geschat)
Studieregistratiedata
Eerst ingediend
Eerst ingediend dat voldeed aan de QC-criteria
Eerst geplaatst (Werkelijk)
Updates van studierecords
Laatste update geplaatst (Werkelijk)
Laatste update ingediend die voldeed aan QC-criteria
Laatst geverifieerd
Meer informatie
Termen gerelateerd aan deze studie
Trefwoorden
Andere studie-ID-nummers
- BREATHE
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